Jazzenzo 15-03-16

Nederlands Jazz ArchiefEnglish:Saxophonist Susanne Alt hails from Germany but has long been a part of our jazz scene. Royalty For Real has the aura of a prestigious product. It is also a tribute to the late trumpeter Roy Hargrove. Hargrove was fond of participating in the after-hours sessions at North Sea Jazz; Alt occasionally played alongside him there – hence Bel Air Bop, one of the seven tracks. The saxophonist/flutist wrote five of the tracks herself, in addition to The Nearness of You and Roy Allan by Hargrove. The album was recorded in February 2022 in New York with pianist James Hurt, bassist Gerald Cannon, and drummer Willie Jones III. - (...) Het resultaat mag er zijn: een arsenaal aan vette funk, zwoele soul en een prettige overdadigheid aan swingende muzikale plaagstoten die in de strakke productie tot hitgevoelige ingrediënten worden samengesmolten. Het welslagen van ‘Saxify’ zit hem niet uitsluitend in de hoeveelheid musici en de enorme staat van dienst van sommigen. Opvallender is de stap die Alt maakte in het produceren van haar materiaal. (...) klinkt ‘Saxify’ sexy en opwindend.De overweldigende mix aan hitsige gitaarlicks, zangpartijen, hoekige funky bassen en swingende blazers worden door Alt tot prikkelende arrangementen gesmeed waarover ze zo nu en dan (…) flink losgaat. Prince is in de vindingrijke details hoorbaar aanwezig, waar Candy Dulfer dat is in de meer voor de hand liggende dansbare funk.‘Saxify’ zal wellicht als commercieel worden beschouwd. Kan zo zijn. Maar niet eerder hoorden we Alt overtuigender als componist en arrangeur dan op ‘Saxify’. (Erno Elsinga)English(...) The result is not to be missed; an arsenal of fat funk, steamy soul and a pleasant overflow of swinging musical teasing and shaking. It's melting together in the tight production and become ingredients with hit potential. The succeeding of Saxify is not only due to the enormous amount of experienced musicians. Alt's production is remarkable. (...) Saxify sounds sexy and exciting.The overwhelming mix of hot guitar licks, vocals, funky bass hooks and swinging horns are welded together in excitatory arrangements and on top she’s soloing energetically (…). Prince seems to be present in the ingenious details, and Candy Dulfer is present in the more obvious danceable stuff.“Saxify” might be seen as commercial. Could be. But we haven’t heard Alt more convincing as composer and arranger before than on “Saxify”. (Erno Elsinga)